Vehicle-wheel.



O. A. PARKER.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED ram/21.1915.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Mij@

0. A. PARKER.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Armin/mou man MA1/21. |915.

Patented I Feb. 18, 1919.

Leeeee;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w fm1 o. A. PARKER.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLxcATIoN FILED MAY21.1915.

Lwz Patented Feb.18,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0. A. PARKER.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLlcATIoN FILED MAY 21, 1915.

L29425. Patented Feb.1s,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

rn strains Partnr onirica.

l@REEL A. IPARKER, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

vvtime:nn-WHEEL.

resinas.'

from. rlhe invention herein relates to awheel of the type shown inthe patent to Gibson No. 986,452 issued Mar. 14, 1911, wherein a demountable rim is applied to the ends of the spokes instead of to a fixed felly, with the advantages resulting therefrom which are set -forth in said patent. It is the general object of this invention to facilitate .the application of the rim to the spoke-ends;

to improve the means ,for so doing; also t,o provide improved constructions of the spoke ends, whereby correspondingly improved seats may be afforded for the rims. A still further object of the invention is to provide securing means of the type referred to with Special reference to spokes which are made of metal, and particularly spokes made of pressed metal. Further and more limited i objects of the invention will. appear, here-- lnafter and will be set forth in their essential combinations of elements in the claims hereto annexed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central sectional view taken through the outer end of one of the spokes and showing the rim in place thereon; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the spoke ends, the rim Lbeing removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification showing the det'ached or unassembled parts from which the outer end of a` pressed metal spoke is formed and showing the nut for the clamping-lever bolt Fig.

4 is an elevationk of the outer end ofthe spoke constructed from the parts shown in f 5 Fig. 3, and showing the rim secured in place;

'placed within the outer end of a spoke; Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnjged Feb, 18, 1919),. Application mea May 21, 1915. serial No. 29,689.

8 is a sectional view through the end of a spoke having said cup or socket therein and showing the clamping lever and rim in place; Fig. 9 represents a side elevation of a wheel the spokes whereof are provided with my attaching means and showing the manner of applying a demountable rim thereto, parts of the wheel being'shown in section; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail showing the end portions of two' adjoining spokes, with the corresponding rim segment `1n place, and illustrating the manner in which the rim ma be applied without removing the clamping levers or clips; Figs.

11, 12 and 13 are respectively a side elevation, a front elevation, and a perspective view (with parts' separated)v of a further modified form of my invention; while Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively a side and a front elevation of a still further modiiication.

Referring to Fig. 9 of the drawings, 1 denotes the hub, 2 the spokes, and 3 the demountable rim of `a wheel, the wheel shown herein being a 4metal wheel and the rim being shown as a rim of the ordinary clencher type. The-spokes may be of cast or pressed metal, and the wheel may be conveniently formed of'two lateral sections one section comprising the outer end of the hub and the i outer halves of the spokes and the other section comprising the inner half of the hub and the inner halves of the spokes, these sections being suitably united by welding along their, meeting edges. Referring more particlarly tothe embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each spoke 2 willhave one side ,of its outer end inclined toward the center-ofthe vehicle. The outer face of each spoke will be provided with a ledge or shoulder 4 from which' there extends a substantially vertical face 5 forming a socket with the `other end walls. outer face 5 and inner face 6, there is located a `cup the outer and inner walls 7 and 8 whereof are complementary to and fit against the corresponding walls 5 and 6 of the spoke Within the socket. This cup (indicated generally at 9) 3a of the demountable rim 3. The outer end of the spoke and of the cup 9 are gently tapered or beveled whereby a slowly tapered base is provided, as indicated at 1() in Fig. l. This bevel, as indicated in Fig. 9, ap-

proximates the bevel or taper which would be produced by an arc described from the inner end of the opposite spoke or by a line tangent to such arc. it follows that the rim will be 'seated upon a slowly tapered base. AWith all previous rims of the type with which l am familiar, a clearance has been left between the inside or seating face of the rim and the adjacent face of the felly band or other mounting, which clearance eX- tends to the inner edge of the felly band or mounting, where its curvature becomes abrupt. ln the case of the felly type of wheels, this clearance is necessary in order to permit the insertion of the valve stem, and the clearance of the driving lugs, etc. ln

lthe spider type of wheel shown herein, the

valve stem needs no consideration and the gentle taper of the ends of the spokes illustrated and described herein prevents the rim from being drawn out of center through the unequal tightening of the bolts. 'fhe tightening of any bolt of course tends to shift the rim an undue distance laterally and radially of the wheel at that point, but it is impossible for the portion of the rim which engages the xed seat on the opposite side of the wheel to move radially inwardly as has been the case with previous constructions,

due to the extended bearing which is provided between the inner portion of the rim and the cooperating portions of the spoke ends. Such'radial inward movement of the rim is opposed by the ends of all of the opposite spokes pressing, not only against the curved portion of the rim but against the flat inside face of the rim itself.

'llhe outer side lwall 7 of the cup 9 and the outer side wall 5 of the spoke are provided with alined openings 7a 4and 5il respectively for a bolt 1l, the opening being of considerably greater diameter than the bolt to permit the free play of the bolt therein. rlhe bolt is providedv with a nut l2 which is keptv from turning by reason of the shape of the side walls of the cup 9, these side walls bej ing projected inwardly to conform more or less to the shape of the nut and bolt end, as indicated at 91 and 9b, Fig. 2.

rlhe bolt head 13 cooperates with the upper end of a locking lever arm or clamp la, which is similar to the locking lever clamp shown in the Gibson patent aforesaid, the inner end of said lever arm being adapted to rest and'pivot upon the shoulder 4; while the outer end is provided with a concaved seat l5 adapted to cooperate with the corresponding seating portion 3 of the rim. T he bolt extends through an elongated aperture or slot 16 in the lever arm and this lever arm is provided with a bearing surface l? for the bolt head 13, said bearing surface being adapte-d to be engaged by the bolt head when the lever is moved inwardly to its clamping position b y the rotation of the bolt through 'its head. When the rim is applied to the ends of the spokes, it will be supported by each spoke along two lateral curved or 1nclined seating surfaces 3a by means of a xed support having a seating surface or pro-- spokes. Such inclination is necessary in order t0 enable the rim to be conveniently applied to the ends of the spokes,-see Fig. .9. 'llhe axle having been jacked up, the rim will be slipped over the top spoke until the surface 3a engages the corresponding seat or stop at the inner side of this spoke. Then,

swinging the rim on this point as a center, it can clear the inclined portions 10 of the other spokes and nothing will interfere with the quick engagement of the inner seating portion 3a with the corresponding, eirtended inner seats on the spoke ends. During this operation, the vlever arms la may be turned transversely of the spokes, by

merely loosening the bolts ll and, when the rim is in engagement with its inner seat-s, these lever arms can be turned to the vertical position shown in llig. l and brought up to rim engagino position by adjusting the said bolts. d he cup .9 enables me to use light-gage metal for the spokes Ywhile securing ample strength in the parts thereof which carry the rim, and which support the movable clamp and its adjusting means. 'As is seen by reference. to Fig; 9, the gentle taper l0 on the spoke ends approximates the curve described by swinging the rim about the inner seat or stop of the opposite spoke as va pivot, or approximates a tangent drawn to such curve. This construction gives all necessary clearance and at the same time prevents the rim from being eccentrically mounted upon the spokes. l

ln Figs. `3 and a there is shown a manner of forming the spoke ends which is particu-- larly useful in connection with pressed metal constructions. i ln these views, 1S denotes the inner and 19 the outer lateral sections of a pressed metal spoke, these sections being suitably united, as by welding them along their meeting edges. ylhe inner section 1S will ybe provided with a seat 18a for the corresponding seating portion 3a of the rim. in order to make the spoke ends largely dirtexcluding, the metal constituting the outer irol ends of the spoke sections 1S may be folded l l inwardly and one of the plies 18h may be folded over upon the other ply 18C, as shown in Fig. 3. rThe entire outer surface thus formedkis inclined in the same manner as the edges of the spoke ends shown in Fig. l, wherebyclearance `will be provided for the purpose of applying the rim tothe spoke ends.

rae

Furthermore this construction strengthens the rim-carrying parts of. the spoke ends.

'Ihe outer spoke section 19 will be shaped so' as to provide a shoulder 20 and a substantially vertical wall 21 therebeyond, the outer end of the section 19 being channel shaped. The wall 21 is provided with an aperture 22 therein for the reception of the bolt`23, and the nut 24 of said bolt will be of such size as to be prevented from Vturning by its engagement with the channel flan es 21a. rlhe clamping lever 14 is substantia ly identical with that shown in Fig. 1, and the parts thereof are identied by the same reference numerals that are applied to the clamping lever in said figure.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a further modication of the invention wherein the spokes are made of pressed metal and the socket construction is somewhat different from that `disclosed in the preceding views. In these views, 24 denotes the inner and 25 the outer spoke section, these sections being conveniently united in the assembling process, as by electrically welding the edges thereof. The section 24 is provided with the seat 24* which is similar to the 'seats 6a and 13H. be Imade largely dirt-excluding by folding the metal inwardly, whereby the two ianges 24h forni-a web which covers the major portion of the socket, this web being inclined in the same manner as that which is provided at the end of the spoke of the preceding modication. The sides of the socket are bent toward each other, as Shown at 24, whereby -the inner side of the socket will be closed, and the anges 24c may be united to form a web having the central aperture26 therein for the` bolt of the lock- I ing lever. An aperture 27 is provided between thel inner end of the web formed by the iianges 24b and the flanges 24, which aperture is adapted to receive the nut which is applied to the locking bolt. The outer spoke member 25 is provided with a vertical wall 28 having an opening 29 therein adapted to registernuith Jghe opening 26, the web 28 being located between the inner and the outer edges of the spoke section 25 and the outer edge or face of the socket formed at the top of the spoke section 24 overhanging the edges 24d. This affords convenient means for. securing the outer and inner spoke sections together and provides a seat for the inner end of the socket upon the shoulders 25a of the section 25. The outer spoke section is provided with a shoulder 30 pressed therefrom which is adapted to form a seat for the locking lever. The lever shown in Fig. 6 is of slightly diiferent shape from that shown in the preceding views and comprises a substantially straight arm 31Y having a beveled surface 32 at its outer end and provided with an elongated slot 33 The socket in this case may' adapted to receive the bolt 11. While any desired type of demountable rim may be used with my spoke-end construction, I have shown in Fig. 6 a rim 34, which is provided at-its inner side with a seating surface 34a similar to the seating surface 3a on the preceding forms of rims but 4which is provided at its outer side with a channel 35 and a removable flange 36, with a locking ring 37. This rim is shown as provided with a downwardly extending rib 38 having a beveled surface 39which is adapted to be engaged by the inclined surface 32 of the locking lever.

In Figs. y7 and 8 I have shown a modification of the spoke-end construction, resembling more closely that of Figs. l and 2. In these views, 40 denotes the metal spoke end l (which may be a casting) having its inner side 46 shaped similarly to the part 6 shown in Fig. 1 and provided at its outer side with spoke, lsaid wall being provided with an apertureV 49 forv the bolt 11. Within the outer end of the spoke there is placed a cup, which cup is shown in Fig. 7 and which may be of pressed metal. The cup is indicated generally at 50 and has a vertical outer wall 51 adapted to engage the wall 48, with a shoulder 52 adapted to l'it under the shoulder 47 and a rounded extension 53 adapted to fit within and conform to the inner rounded face of the spoke. The inner wall 54 ofthe cup conforms to the inner wall 46 of the lspoke end, while the sides of the cup are extended and pressed 'toward each other, as shown at 55, whereby they form a web which is adapted to aline with the wall 51, the web being provided with an aperture 56 105 which is adapted to register with the aperture 49. The sides of the cup are pressed inwardly, as shown at 57, whereby they provide means for engaging the nut 12 to prevent the same from turning with the bolt 11@ i -clearance is provided for the demountable rim as, is the case with the-preceding modifications.

As it may happenthat the operator will fail to tighten the bolt suiiciently, or the bolts may unscrew slightly, whereby the rim might tend to creep and thus endanger the valve connection, I provide the rim with studs 3b, preferably corresponding in number to the number of spokes on the wheel.

In applying the rim to the spoke ends, the i' studs should be placed. between the spokes. rI`hen,.should the rim happen to creep, it can, v 4 creep only until the rst stud engages the side of the spoke end,whereupon further'creeping will be prevented, and the danger of cutting or breaking o@ the valve stem will be avoided.

ln higs. Ell-i8 there is shown a still iur* ther modidcation of my invention wherein the spoke end is provided with a movable clamping wedge which is adapted to be tightened thereby to torce the rim uponthe spoke end arm and to retain the outer side of the rim in operative relation to the spoke end while providing means whereby the movable clamping wedge may be retained upon the spoke end pending the application ot the rim thereto. ln these views, the spoke end 59 is shown as made of light metal (preferably sheet metal) having a block 60 applied to the upper end thereo'l2 and having at its inner end the upwardly projecting arm 6l, similar to the arms ot the other modifications. rlhe inner end of the block is projected outwardly, as shown at 62,- thereby to conform to the contour of the spoke end as wellas to reinforce the inner seat for the demountable rim. The block and the spoke end are tapered to provide clearance for the demountable rim 3. 'lhe block is provided with a recess 63, entending downwardly -from the top and inwardly from the outer surface thereof, and with a threaded bore 6d extending inwardly from said recess. Lateral shoulders and vertical shoulders 66 are provided on each side or" the bore 63, the shoulders 65 being inclined. i

Cooperating with the block and with the arm 6l is a wedge comprising a body havingI an upwardly extending curved arm 67 and lateral wings 68. The outer lateral face of the wedge block is provi-ded with a recess for the accommodation of the head 69 of a machine bolt, which is adapted to extend through the wedge block and to be threaded into the bore 6d, the wings 68 riding upon the inclined shoulders 65.

With the parts constructed as described, the operation will be evident. The bolt may be unscrewed -a sutlicient distance to allow the wings 68 to clear the shoulders 65 whereupon the wedge block may be inverted, which will allow the demountable rim to be applied to the spoke end and to be thrust against the parts 6l and 62. The wedge block may then be turned over and the bolt adjusted to bring the parts to substantially the position sho-wn in Fig. ll, the wedge being moved radially by its movement along the shoulders 65.

ln liigs. ld and l5 there is shown a. still further modiication, -wherein the top 70 ot the spoke is provided with an arm 7l against which the inner side of the demountable rim 3 is adapted to bear, as in the `preceding modifications. rlihe outer end or the spoke is provided with a cup 70' ber 72 for retaining against rotatipn a nut which is recessed thereby to provide a chaman. nseaeaa 7 3 on a bolt 7d. ilhis bolt extends through elongated slots in 'the walls of the spoke and or the cup and is provided with ahead 75.

79. ln operation, as the bolt is tightened,` i

the lower end or the block will exert more or less pressure against the spoke wall.

lWhen the block is near its inner adj-usted4 position, it will be moved radially by means lof the inclined surface 78, moving along the inclined seat on the spoke end, thereby to thrust the outer side of the rim radially.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is l. ln a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow metallic outer end, a cup within each such outer end, one side of such outer end and the cup forming jointly a seat for a de# mountable rim, a movable member on the opposite side of ythe spoke end from such seat and adapted by its adjustment to engage the opposite seating portion of such rim, and adjusting means for said member extending into said cup and operatively connected thereto.

2. :ln a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow metallic outer end and a rim seat at one side of each such end, a cup within each such end, 'a movable member on the opposite side of the spoke end from such^ seat and adapted by its adjustment to engage the opposite seating portion or such rim, and adjusting meansjfor said'member extending into said cup.

3. ln a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow metallic outer end, Ia cup within each such outer end, one side of such outer end and the cup forming jointly an outwardly extending seat for a demountable rim, said cup extending alongside of and renforcing the wall ot the spoke end which is opposite said seat, a movable member on the opposite side of the spoke end from said seat and adapted by its adjustment to engage the opposite seating portion of a demountable rim. and an adjusting bolt connected to said member and extending through the adjacent walls of the spoke and cup.

1l. ln a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow metallic outer end, a cup within each such outer end, one side of such outer end and the cup :forming jointly a lateral seat for a demountable rim, said cup extending .a movable member on the opposite side ofV the spoke end from said sea-t and adapted `by its adjustment to engage the opposite lateral seating portion of such rim, and adjusting means for said member extending through the adjacent walls of the spoke and cup and operatively connected thereto.

5. In a vehicle wheel the combination of a plurality of hollow metallic spokes, a hollow metal cup in the outer end of each spoke andv renforcing the Walls thereof, said cup and spoke end having jointly an outwardly projecting seat or arm adapted to be engaged 'by a corresponding lateral seating surface at one side of a demountable rim, a movable member adapted to engage Jthe opposite seating surface of such rim, and adjusting means for said member extending through the adjacent walls of the spoke end and cup.

6. In a vehicle wheel the combination of a plurality of hollow metallic spokes, a hollow metal cup in the outer end of each spoke and renforcing the .walls thereof, said spoke end having an outwardly projecting seat or arm adapted to be engaged by a corresponding seating surface at one side of a demountable rim, a movable member adapted to engage the opposite seating surface of such rim, and adjusting means for',I said member extending through and operatively connected to said cup.

7. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow outer metallic end and each outer end having at one side thereof an outwardly extending seat or arm adapted to engage a corresponding lateral seating portion of a demountable rim, a cup within the outer end of the spoke, a laterally movable member on the opposite side of the spoke end from said seat and adapted to engage an oppositely arranged seating portion of such rim, and adjusting means for said member comprising a bolt having a head on the outside of the spoke and a nut within the cup, there being means associated with the cup for preventing the nut from turning on the bolt.

8. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow outer metallic end and each outer end having at one side thereof an outwardly extending seat or arm adapted to engagea corresponding lateral seating portion of a demountable rim, a cup within the outer end of the spoke, a laterally movable mein` ber on the opposite side of the spoke end from said seat and adapted to enga e an oppositely arranged seating portion o such rim, and adjusting means for said member extending into the spoke and cup.

9. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow metallic outer end, a cup within said outer end, one side of such outer end and the cup forming jointly an outwardly extending seat for a lateral seating portion of a demountable rim said cup extending alongside of and reinforcing the wall of the spoke which is opposite said seat, a movable member on the opposite side of the spoke end from said seat and adapted by its adjustment to engage the opposite seating portion of such rim, an adjustingbolt connected to said member and extending through the adjacent 'walls of the spoke and cup, said bolt having a nut thereon within the cup and the cup having means to .prevent the rotation of the nut with the bolt.

10. In a' vehicle wheel, the combination. of a plurality of spokes each having a hollow metallic outer end, a pressed metal cup in the outer end of such spoke, one of the walls of said cup and one of the lateral walls of the spoke end being extended youtwardly to form jointly a projecting arm or seat for one of the lateral seating portions of a rim.

and the opposite side of said cup being extended along the opposite side ofthe spoke end to rein rce` the same, portions of the walls of the cup intermediate of the aforesaid walls being pressed toward each other, a'movable member located outside of the spoke end and on the side opposite from such seat and having a portion which, by the adjustment of such member 1s adapted to engage the opposite lateral seating portion of the rim, a bolt connected to said member and the adjacent walls of the spoke and cup and having a head on the outside of the spoke and a nut within the space provided by pressing inwardly the walls of said cup. v

11. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having a xed lateral seat and an adjustable lateral seat for a demountable rim, and a rim adapted to be applied to said seats and having one or more inwardly extending projections adapted to engage a spoke end to limit the creeping of said rim. 12. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of af series of spokes each having a hollow4 metallic outer end and a cup within such end, each spoke end havin at one side thereof a seat or arm adapte to engage a corresponding lateral seating portion of a -demountable rim, a laterally movable member on the opposite side of the spoke end from the said seat or arm and adapted to engage an oppositely arranged lateral seating portion of such rim, and means connected yto said laterally movable member and to a" spoke end for adjusting the said member.

13. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a plurality of spokes each having at one side thereof al projection adapted to engage a corresponding lateral seating portioii of a elemouiitable tim, each spoke eiil having a slowly tapeiefl base extending transversely theieof from suoli pojeotioil whereby the side of the rim and a potioii of the base thereof may be seated 'against such piojeotion and the poitioii of the base 'adjacent thei'eto, a lateially movable membeia at the opposite sitle of the spoke enel from said projection and adapted to eiigage ail oppositely looate'cfL seatingpoition oI suoli rim, and means for adjusting saicl laterally movable meinbei` towael and from the saicl jpfojeotion.

le., lil a vehicle wheel, the combination of a pluiality oi spokes each having at one side thereof an outwardly extending seat to ieoeive a corresponding late-hal seating looftioii of a deiiiouiitable iim, said. seat and said seating 'lootioii extending the gfeater a o ieee-,eee

part of the :lista-hoe from the iniiei edge oiQ the wheel to the center line thereof, each spoke eiiolv having a slowly tapered base extending ti'ansveisely thereof from said seat to the outei' edge of the wheel, a laterally Y movable membei at the opposite siole of the spoke eiid from sai seat and adapted to engage an oppositely located seating poitioii of said crim, and means foi adjusting saicl laterally movable member towai'cl and fiom the said seat..

lo testimony whereof, l hereunto ax my sigiiatue in the pheseiloe of two wit messes.

@BREL A. PARKER.

T/l/"itiiesses STEEN? @L BAvmsoN. 

